Phases Of Pre-Pyu's Cultural Unit from Distinctive Burial Patterns at Different Places

Phases of Pre–Pyu’s Cultural Unit from Distinctive Burial Patterns at Different Places

                           

                                                               Sein Myint

                                                                  Director of Research Section, D.H.R

 

In prehistory of world , stone age, bronze age and iron age were mentioned orderly ,this  is the historic ages  of world. It can be divided into the time of art of writing  and the time of no alphabet in human society . In early time of Myanmar, the art of writing had been in Pyu period and it was not  earlier than Pyu. To be said surely and flowery things  about Paleolithic age( stone age),its facts and evidences of human were very less by excavation of archaeology. It is to be discussing about the prehistoric time by the findings only materials and objects without human. It is not to present for human in Myanmar because its evidences were less. In this paper, it will be present to Myanmar metal age (bronze and iron) on findings by excavation. It is agree or disagree with my opinions and theory  on the following presentation.

            By 1980s the archaeology department excavated many sites at the different places, it is finding skeletal remains with objects at the sites. These were

 

            Site                                                     Age                             Excavated year

 

            Taungthaman (Amarapura),          iron age                                 1980

            Nyaungkan (Butalin)                      late bronze age                    1998

            Mon Htoo(butalin)                            iron age                                 1999

            Inn de (TaungThar)                         iron age                                 1999

            MyinnOoHle (Mahlaing)                 iron age                                 1999

            Kokkokhahla (Mahlaing)                iron age                                 2000

            Hnawkan (Mahlaing)                      iron age                                 2001

            YwaHtin (PyawBwe)                       iron age                                 2002-2003

            MyoHla (Yamethin)                         iron age                                 2004

            Han Lin (ShweBo ) HL 25              iron age                                 2005

            Han Lin (HL 26 )                              iron age                                 2005

            Ohn Min (PyawBwe)                       iron age                                 2005

            Htantapin(PyawBwe)                      iron age                                 2006

            NyaungKone (PyawBwe)              iron age                                 2007

            Han Lin( HL 27,28)                          iron age                                 2008

            Kanthitkone(Tharse)                       iron age                                 2008

            Han Lin( HL 29,30)                          iron age                                 2009

            Han Lin( HL 31)                               iron age                                 2010

The scientific dating was provided from two sites –

                  Site                                       Date

Taungthaman              700 - 410 B.C.(thermo luminescence dating method)[1], Ywa Htin                           770  - 190 B.C ( radio carbon dating method).[2]

According to relative dating of sites;

                  Site                                               Date  

NyaungKan                                   c.900 B.C

MyinnOoHle , Kokkokhahla             700 – 500 B.C.

HnawKan                                         500 – 200 B.C

Han Lin                                            700 – 200 B.C.

            It is depended on the accurate dates from relative and scientific ways which could be decided that the date of Myanmar metal age had been during 900 B.C – 190 B.C. The emergence of urbanization was during time of late 190 B.C. The high standard human society was Ywa Htin Kone site. It was found 180 burials; human skeletons associated with earthen wares, iron and bronze objects.[3] The findings at Ywa Htin, which were traced the facts of Pyu, Iron age and Stone age. It is only 68 skeletal remains. We want to estimate the population on some excavation sites, surmised that how did they live in society .There were following as

 

            Excavation sites                 Skeletal remains                 Estimated population[4]

 

            Han Lin 27                                       38                                           104

            Han Lin 25                                         8                                               24

            Han Lin 26                                       12                                               36

            Han Lin 28                                       37                                           111

            Han Lin 29                                       51                                           153

            Han Lin 30                                       34                                           102

            HnawKan                                        76                                            228

            Inde                                                   24                                               72

            Kanthitkone                                     30                                               90

            Kokkokhahla                                   48                                            144

            Mon Htoo                                         24                                               72

            MyinnOoHle                                    43                                            129

            MyoHla                                             36                                            108     

            NyaungKan                                     43                                            129

            Taungthaman                                 44                                            132

            YwaHtin                                           68                                           204

 

 

In these different places, human lived many types and social forms. According to the Anthropological view, there has at least 100 – 150 people in a tribe with chief or big man and followers.[5] Big Man controlled to his followers.[6] This is a form  of metal age cultural social control. According to the monohybrid cross system[7], the population of a tribe during bronze age, had 100- 150 people from grandfather to father, father to son by generation reproduced in their society compound. Many objects; ring stones, polished stone tools, bronze and iron objects ,earthen wares, various semi-precious stone beads were associated with human’s skeletons in burials.

            Bronze  tools and weapons[8], iron tools and weapons and various types and forms of earthen wares were found at sites HL 25,26 ,27,28 , Han Lin in 2005 and 2008.Same  as, the circle -  bronze sheets, the earthen wares and bronze objects were collected by the Han Lin villagers, it was kept in  U Naga monastery and it was found at Kanthitkone,  Yamethin township in 2008.[9]This circle bronze sheet was made of waxing method. The small holes at edges of circle bronze sheet is to tie to their cloths for body decoration. The people wore the designs for clothes their alive. They used two ways it is not only  wears  but also protection to body. This is a useable thing of a tribe.

            The bronze sheets in rectangular shape with floral design were found at Myin Oo Hle, Kanthitkone. They are same designs. Previously, archaeologists and pre historians remarked that it is a decoration for coffins.[10] Now, it is an ornament for display to dead body before cremation. The best document of remaining evidence is for decoration within funeral ceremony to dead body. These objects were found on adult’s dead body and baby’s dead body at Kanthitkone site. This bronze sheet especially was displayed for wealthy or powerful person. Although they lived at different places, the same floral designs had been used in a tribal community. This ornamental culture or technology was spread or the people brought up the making way to another tribe. There were liked the tribe culture than advanced technology.

            The wrapped copper pins with clothes[11] were found together with human skeletons at Han Lin, Ywa Htin kone, Kanthitkone, Myo Hla, Hnaw Kan, Kokkokhahla, Ohn Min sites. The best document of archaeological evidences  were  objects at YwaHtin, Kanthitkone, Han Lin. The objects were for what, not know definately .But the wrapped copper pins had been used at many places at that time and it was the burial culture of a tribe. The people of Metal age in Myanmar arrived at many different directions. It could be said that the people of Metal age were nomads; they went and arrived at many places.

The people in society of Metal age, who know how to breed animals for hunting, foods, guards and for friends to assist their works,. The animal skeletons were found together with human skeletons at sites. The skeletons of cow, cattle, buffaloes, goats, sheeps,pigs and horse were found. Human skeletons and legs of two horses were found at Hnaw Kan site.[12] The cattle and cow was breed for agriculture. The dogs were domestic friends for their settle, the best findings at Nyaung kan site (1998), Kanthitkone site (2008).[13] The dogs were breed for hunting or for guard to settle. In world historic events, the wild dog or jackals had been breed about 118,000 B.C. in Iraq, between 8500 and 7000 years ago at Peiligang in China.[14] The origin of wild dog was wolf genus[15], it is not origin in South East Asia. The skeletons of dog were found at Banyan valleys and Steep Cliff cave in Thailand. According to carbon dating of the skeletons of dog and objects were during 2000 B.C. The ancient Thai who breed and tamed wild dog species from wolf to jackal.[16] In Myanmar the stage of animal breeding were reached for meal and foods and the people at Kathitkone site breed the grey hounds species.[17] The meats were become for meals and foods. The pork, beef and small animals were meat for daily diets. They reached the foods gathering stage in daily life of early society. Another distinctive burial was found together with a snake skeleton and human skeleton at Han Lin (HL 30).[18] It shows that the snake was used for domestic or entertainment. He is probably a snake charmer, nicked name "snake prince".

The earthen wares had been found together with human skeletons at many excavation sites. Earthen ware plates with long, medium and short stands were found which has many types and forms. The foods and cuisines were put in the earthen wares together with dead man  to pray for his next life. The plates with long stands were found at Taungthaman, Myinn Oo Hle, Kokokhahla, Kanthitkone. The short stand plates were also found at Hnaw Kan site. Four small compartment plates with long mono- stand were found at Han Lin. Previously it is remarked the earthen lamp.[19] The recent findings at Han Lin (Hl 27) were together with human’s skeletons and other objects. This four small plates with long stand can be put foods and cuisines. It liked a kind of plate to put  for food  than oil lamp. The short stand plates were found together with human skeletons at Nyaung Kan site. Although various kind of types and forms of plates with stands at different places were, the aim of plates were putting in funeral ceremony that is same intention. The earthen plate with stand was a very important object for display at funeral ceremony, must be put accordance with customs. The same cultural practice were used  the putting long stand plates together with human skeleton at Taungthaman, Myinn Oo Hle, Kokkokhahla and Kanthitkone site. It can be said that that is same  and a tribal culture. Another burial practice was when the dead body cremation put surrounds with earthen wares did. This burial cultural practice was found at Myinn Oo Hle, Kokkokhahla, Taungthaman, Hnaw Kan and Kanthitkone. Two kinds of burial customs were found at Kanthitkone. The cultural practice was the earthen wares put tier  upon tier beside dead body at Kanthitkone and NyaungKan site.[20] It was a tribal cultural practice. Also earthen wares were fall down beside dead body at Kanthitkone. It can be estimated that the tribe lived at Kanthitkone by three generations, getting the technology from other tribes and they invented to advance the ways of life in their society.

If it is presented about the human skeletal findings by dental analysis and osteology, they were Homo- erectus order, Mongoloid race, their two incisors has shoveling shape.[21] It could be said that it might be Mongoloid races order and diversity of many tribes . They has full modern human’s characteristics, protruding cheeks, rounded skull, the mental foramen under premolar 2 of tooth. They reached at stage of Homo-sapiens. They worked hard in daily life, therefore their clavicles were thick and strong than modern man especially men at Nyaung Kan and Hnaw kan site.[22] It can be mentioned that their height had how long.

 

 

The estimation  height of man in Metal Age

 

Place                                            Male                                     Female

 

Hnaw Kan                             160 centimeters                    156 centimeters

Kokkokhahla                                    160 centimeters                    155 centimeters

Myo Hla                                 160 – centimeters                150 centimeters

Nyaung Kan                         160 centimeters                    150 centimeters

Ywa Htin                                160 + centimeters                150 centimeters

 

 

The burials were damaged by treasure hunters at many places or sites, therefore the completed skeletons had not remained. Due to the digging by treasure hunters looked for the beads, the cultural value of the sites was lost and worst conditions. The people in Metal age wore as an ornament for body to various stone beads and bone beads. The making ways of bead had been spread different places. They liked the carnelian beads. Many types and size of beads were made of carnelian and next kind of bead was made of soapstone. It was fashionable and cheapest thing for every body at that time. It has type of long drum, ball, and square.

            They wore various beads, also bangles and bracelets which were made of animal bones and stones, even copper bracelet and copper bangles were made.[23]  They wore the bracelets which were made of elephant’s tusk. The best evidence is from Myo Hla site and Han Lin site (HL 29).[24] They carried the raw material from their surrounding areas and near settlement areas to make the bangles and bracelets. The elephants tusk   bracelet was fashionable at that time, the teenage and adults liked It. In here, it is something to say more presentation about the people at Myo Hla and Han Lin. They were different tribes and same cultural patterns in societal community. They were dwelling at many places and wandering to places. It can be estimated that they lived at tropical zone and semi tropical zone. They, as a tribe settlement construction their shelters made of bamboo and wood, a tribal group with 200- 150 people lived under control by chief.[25] This is characteristic of Metal age society system. They descended surviving by generation to generation through Metal age.

            Its presented facts and events above in this paper, there are something to discuss about the people in the Metal age, they used a new technology metal - cast and mold and they reached the phases of foraging –hunting, fishing and collecting wild plants foods. Such as cooking to beef, pork, muttons and small animals, the paddy liked corn or millet which could be cultivated. They know that how to keep the foods for daily life. Also they had the standardized norms of a tribe in their society. In Myanmar historical periods, Pyu who lived at city states at tropical and semitropical zone. Before Pyu arrived at these places, the people of Metal age settled, also at Han Lin. After Pyu arrived at Han Lin, assimilated with the local residents.  The best evidence of Han Lin sites provided that the assimilation was happened at other areas in Myanmar during time of changing from Metal age or chiefdom to city state, urbanized stage and civilized phases. We are hoping to add new coming facts and data from next excavation and to solve the complicated questions. It is my presentation about the people in Myanmar historical chronology as my knowledge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                            Sein Myint

                                                                                                      25 November 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phases Of Pre-Pyu's Cultural Unit from Distinctive Burial Patterns at Different Places

Phases of Pre–Pyu’s Cultural Unit from Distinctive Burial Patterns at Different Places

                           

                                                               Sein Myint

                                                                  Director of Research Section, D.H.R

 

In prehistory of world , stone age, bronze age and iron age were mentioned orderly ,this  is the historic ages  of world. It can be divided into the time of art of writing  and the time of no alphabet in human society . In early time of Myanmar, the art of writing had been in Pyu period and it was not  earlier than Pyu. To be said surely and flowery things  about Paleolithic age( stone age),its facts and evidences of human were very less by excavation of archaeology. It is to be discussing about the prehistoric time by the findings only materials and objects without human. It is not to present for human in Myanmar because its evidences were less. In this paper, it will be present to Myanmar metal age (bronze and iron) on findings by excavation. It is agree or disagree with my opinions and theory  on the following presentation.

            By 1980s the archaeology department excavated many sites at the different places, it is finding skeletal remains with objects at the sites. These were

 

            Site                                                     Age                             Excavated year

 

            Taungthaman (Amarapura),          iron age                                 1980

            Nyaungkan (Butalin)                      late bronze age                    1998

            Mon Htoo(butalin)                            iron age                                 1999

            Inn de (TaungThar)                         iron age                                 1999

            MyinnOoHle (Mahlaing)                 iron age                                 1999

            Kokkokhahla (Mahlaing)                iron age                                 2000

            Hnawkan (Mahlaing)                      iron age                                 2001

            YwaHtin (PyawBwe)                       iron age                                 2002-2003

            MyoHla (Yamethin)                         iron age                                 2004

            Han Lin (ShweBo ) HL 25              iron age                                 2005

            Han Lin (HL 26 )                              iron age                                 2005

            Ohn Min (PyawBwe)                       iron age                                 2005

            Htantapin(PyawBwe)                      iron age                                 2006

            NyaungKone (PyawBwe)              iron age                                 2007

            Han Lin( HL 27,28)                          iron age                                 2008

            Kanthitkone(Tharse)                       iron age                                 2008

            Han Lin( HL 29,30)                          iron age                                 2009

            Han Lin( HL 31)                               iron age                                 2010

The scientific dating was provided from two sites –

                  Site                                       Date

Taungthaman              700 - 410 B.C.(thermo luminescence dating method)[1], Ywa Htin                           770  - 190 B.C ( radio carbon dating method).[2]

According to relative dating of sites;

                  Site                                               Date  

NyaungKan                                   c.900 B.C

MyinnOoHle , Kokkokhahla             700 – 500 B.C.

HnawKan                                         500 – 200 B.C

Han Lin                                            700 – 200 B.C.

            It is depended on the accurate dates from relative and scientific ways which could be decided that the date of Myanmar metal age had been during 900 B.C – 190 B.C. The emergence of urbanization was during time of late 190 B.C. The high standard human society was Ywa Htin Kone site. It was found 180 burials; human skeletons associated with earthen wares, iron and bronze objects.[3] The findings at Ywa Htin, which were traced the facts of Pyu, Iron age and Stone age. It is only 68 skeletal remains. We want to estimate the population on some excavation sites, surmised that how did they live in society .There were following as

 

            Excavation sites                 Skeletal remains                 Estimated population[4]

 

            Han Lin 27                                       38                                           104

            Han Lin 25                                         8                                               24

            Han Lin 26                                       12                                               36

            Han Lin 28                                       37                                           111

            Han Lin 29                                       51                                           153

            Han Lin 30                                       34                                           102

            HnawKan                                        76                                            228

            Inde                                                   24                                               72

            Kanthitkone                                     30                                               90

            Kokkokhahla                                   48                                            144

            Mon Htoo                                         24                                               72

            MyinnOoHle                                    43                                            129

            MyoHla                                             36                                            108     

            NyaungKan                                     43                                            129

            Taungthaman                                 44                                            132

            YwaHtin                                           68                                           204

 

 

In these different places, human lived many types and social forms. According to the Anthropological view, there has at least 100 – 150 people in a tribe with chief or big man and followers.[5] Big Man controlled to his followers.[6] This is a form  of metal age cultural social control. According to the monohybrid cross system[7], the population of a tribe during bronze age, had 100- 150 people from grandfather to father, father to son by generation reproduced in their society compound. Many objects; ring stones, polished stone tools, bronze and iron objects ,earthen wares, various semi-precious stone beads were associated with human’s skeletons in burials.

            Bronze  tools and weapons[8], iron tools and weapons and various types and forms of earthen wares were found at sites HL 25,26 ,27,28 , Han Lin in 2005 and 2008.Same  as, the circle -  bronze sheets, the earthen wares and bronze objects were collected by the Han Lin villagers, it was kept in  U Naga monastery and it was found at Kanthitkone,  Yamethin township in 2008.[9]This circle bronze sheet was made of waxing method. The small holes at edges of circle bronze sheet is to tie to their cloths for body decoration. The people wore the designs for clothes their alive. They used two ways it is not only  wears  but also protection to body. This is a useable thing of a tribe.

            The bronze sheets in rectangular shape with floral design were found at Myin Oo Hle, Kanthitkone. They are same designs. Previously, archaeologists and pre historians remarked that it is a decoration for coffins.[10] Now, it is an ornament for display to dead body before cremation. The best document of remaining evidence is for decoration within funeral ceremony to dead body. These objects were found on adult’s dead body and baby’s dead body at Kanthitkone site. This bronze sheet especially was displayed for wealthy or powerful person. Although they lived at different places, the same floral designs had been used in a tribal community. This ornamental culture or technology was spread or the people brought up the making way to another tribe. There were liked the tribe culture than advanced technology.

            The wrapped copper pins with clothes[11] were found together with human skeletons at Han Lin, Ywa Htin kone, Kanthitkone, Myo Hla, Hnaw Kan, Kokkokhahla, Ohn Min sites. The best document of archaeological evidences  were  objects at YwaHtin, Kanthitkone, Han Lin. The objects were for what, not know definately .But the wrapped copper pins had been used at many places at that time and it was the burial culture of a tribe. The people of Metal age in Myanmar arrived at many different directions. It could be said that the people of Metal age were nomads; they went and arrived at many places.

The people in society of Metal age, who know how to breed animals for hunting, foods, guards and for friends to assist their works,. The animal skeletons were found together with human skeletons at sites. The skeletons of cow, cattle, buffaloes, goats, sheeps,pigs and horse were found. Human skeletons and legs of two horses were found at Hnaw Kan site.[12] The cattle and cow was breed for agriculture. The dogs were domestic friends for their settle, the best findings at Nyaung kan site (1998), Kanthitkone site (2008).[13] The dogs were breed for hunting or for guard to settle. In world historic events, the wild dog or jackals had been breed about 118,000 B.C. in Iraq, between 8500 and 7000 years ago at Peiligang in China.[14] The origin of wild dog was wolf genus[15], it is not origin in South East Asia. The skeletons of dog were found at Banyan valleys and Steep Cliff cave in Thailand. According to carbon dating of the skeletons of dog and objects were during 2000 B.C. The ancient Thai who breed and tamed wild dog species from wolf to jackal.[16] In Myanmar the stage of animal breeding were reached for meal and foods and the people at Kathitkone site breed the grey hounds species.[17] The meats were become for meals and foods. The pork, beef and small animals were meat for daily diets. They reached the foods gathering stage in daily life of early society. Another distinctive burial was found together with a snake skeleton and human skeleton at Han Lin (HL 30).[18] It shows that the snake was used for domestic or entertainment. He is probably a snake charmer, nicked name "snake prince".

The earthen wares had been found together with human skeletons at many excavation sites. Earthen ware plates with long, medium and short stands were found which has many types and forms. The foods and cuisines were put in the earthen wares together with dead man  to pray for his next life. The plates with long stands were found at Taungthaman, Myinn Oo Hle, Kokokhahla, Kanthitkone. The short stand plates were also found at Hnaw Kan site. Four small compartment plates with long mono- stand were found at Han Lin. Previously it is remarked the earthen lamp.[19] The recent findings at Han Lin (Hl 27) were together with human’s skeletons and other objects. This four small plates with long stand can be put foods and cuisines. It liked a kind of plate to put  for food  than oil lamp. The short stand plates were found together with human skeletons at Nyaung Kan site. Although various kind of types and forms of plates with stands at different places were, the aim of plates were putting in funeral ceremony that is same intention. The earthen plate with stand was a very important object for display at funeral ceremony, must be put accordance with customs. The same cultural practice were used  the putting long stand plates together with human skeleton at Taungthaman, Myinn Oo Hle, Kokkokhahla and Kanthitkone site. It can be said that that is same  and a tribal culture. Another burial practice was when the dead body cremation put surrounds with earthen wares did. This burial cultural practice was found at Myinn Oo Hle, Kokkokhahla, Taungthaman, Hnaw Kan and Kanthitkone. Two kinds of burial customs were found at Kanthitkone. The cultural practice was the earthen wares put tier  upon tier beside dead body at Kanthitkone and NyaungKan site.[20] It was a tribal cultural practice. Also earthen wares were fall down beside dead body at Kanthitkone. It can be estimated that the tribe lived at Kanthitkone by three generations, getting the technology from other tribes and they invented to advance the ways of life in their society.

If it is presented about the human skeletal findings by dental analysis and osteology, they were Homo- erectus order, Mongoloid race, their two incisors has shoveling shape.[21] It could be said that it might be Mongoloid races order and diversity of many tribes . They has full modern human’s characteristics, protruding cheeks, rounded skull, the mental foramen under premolar 2 of tooth. They reached at stage of Homo-sapiens. They worked hard in daily life, therefore their clavicles were thick and strong than modern man especially men at Nyaung Kan and Hnaw kan site.[22] It can be mentioned that their height had how long.

 

 

The estimation  height of man in Metal Age

 

Place                                            Male                                     Female

 

Hnaw Kan                             160 centimeters                    156 centimeters

Kokkokhahla                                    160 centimeters                    155 centimeters

Myo Hla                                 160 – centimeters                150 centimeters

Nyaung Kan                         160 centimeters                    150 centimeters

Ywa Htin                                160 + centimeters                150 centimeters

 

 

The burials were damaged by treasure hunters at many places or sites, therefore the completed skeletons had not remained. Due to the digging by treasure hunters looked for the beads, the cultural value of the sites was lost and worst conditions. The people in Metal age wore as an ornament for body to various stone beads and bone beads. The making ways of bead had been spread different places. They liked the carnelian beads. Many types and size of beads were made of carnelian and next kind of bead was made of soapstone. It was fashionable and cheapest thing for every body at that time. It has type of long drum, ball, and square.

            They wore various beads, also bangles and bracelets which were made of animal bones and stones, even copper bracelet and copper bangles were made.[23]  They wore the bracelets which were made of elephant’s tusk. The best evidence is from Myo Hla site and Han Lin site (HL 29).[24] They carried the raw material from their surrounding areas and near settlement areas to make the bangles and bracelets. The elephants tusk   bracelet was fashionable at that time, the teenage and adults liked It. In here, it is something to say more presentation about the people at Myo Hla and Han Lin. They were different tribes and same cultural patterns in societal community. They were dwelling at many places and wandering to places. It can be estimated that they lived at tropical zone and semi tropical zone. They, as a tribe settlement construction their shelters made of bamboo and wood, a tribal group with 200- 150 people lived under control by chief.[25] This is characteristic of Metal age society system. They descended surviving by generation to generation through Metal age.

            Its presented facts and events above in this paper, there are something to discuss about the people in the Metal age, they used a new technology metal - cast and mold and they reached the phases of foraging –hunting, fishing and collecting wild plants foods. Such as cooking to beef, pork, muttons and small animals, the paddy liked corn or millet which could be cultivated. They know that how to keep the foods for daily life. Also they had the standardized norms of a tribe in their society. In Myanmar historical periods, Pyu who lived at city states at tropical and semitropical zone. Before Pyu arrived at these places, the people of Metal age settled, also at Han Lin. After Pyu arrived at Han Lin, assimilated with the local residents.  The best evidence of Han Lin sites provided that the assimilation was happened at other areas in Myanmar during time of changing from Metal age or chiefdom to city state, urbanized stage and civilized phases. We are hoping to add new coming facts and data from next excavation and to solve the complicated questions. It is my presentation about the people in Myanmar historical chronology as my knowledge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                            Sein Myint

                                                                                                      25 November 2011